Shaunte Whitted
Owner, Lead Strategist
SDW Communications
Shaunte launched her self-starter public relations firm, SDW Communications, in 2019 with about 20 years of experience booking authors for public engagements and organizing club promotions. She received her bachelor’s in human services from Springfield College in 2006 and worked for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Manchester from 2003-2012, including as its president of Diversity and Workplace Culture.
She was president and head of public relations for Perfect Place Entertainment for four years, and was a family service specialist for the NH Department of Health and Human Services from 2013-2020 before running SDW Communications full time. She recently celebrated her five-year anniversary of running the firm.
Shaunte is an event planner for the NH Black Women Health Project, a board member of Manchester nonprofit Spark the Dream, and she co-chairs the We Are One Festival in Manchester. The festival combines the former Latinos Unidos Latino Festival and Ujima Collective African/Caribbean Celebration events. She was recently named one of the Center for Women & Enterprise’s 2024 Rising Stars. Shaunte has three children — Tyrell, 26; Tayvon, 18; and Amelia, 10.
What were the roots of your career today?
When I was in eighth grade, I won a “Service Above Self” award at our graduation, and that award came with a nice $100 savings bond for what was then known as Bank of New Hampshire (not the current Bank of NH). At that time, I didn’t know what the magnitude of receiving the award was, but I knew I was in life to be of service, but I didn’t know anything about what it meant. I spent many years in corporate America, but there were some parts of me that felt like I was of service but not in the way I thought was impactful.
I finally realized that my purpose is not only to be of service but to also magnify other people’s attributes. I had an entertainment company prior to SDW Communications, had a television show, did interviews and really got to know the entertainment industry. As well as being a host and producer, I started working with film directors, and then it finally clicked that what I was doing was public relations service.
Who have you been excited to work with in public relations?
I’m currently working doing event planning and entertainment PR; I made that shift in 2022. That was started when I worked with Alikiba, a Tanzanian musician who plays a fusion of Bongo fleva and pop music. He was here that year in a USA tour, and Manchester got to be the first city in the tour. Now, I work with my significant other — JohnLu — who plays bass, guitar, keyboard, sings and plays drums. I’m on the board of directors for Spark the Dream, and I encouraged JohnLu to be the music director for its kids program.
I’ve had the distinct opportunity to work with Judge Greg Mathis. I was hired through an organization called NCOBRA — the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America — to do fundraising so that we could bring four college students to Detroit from New Hampshire to learn about reparations. That was how I met Mathis, who was one of the keynote speakers for that program. Fast forward a year later amid COVID, the NAACP Manchester Branch was doing their annual fundraising event. Mathis was the keynote they hired, and they then hired me to work with him.
Who are your mentors or your biggest sources of inspiration?
I had so many different memorable instructors in college. But there’s just too many to name — I would hate to leave somebody out! My biggest source of inspiration is my son, Tyrell, hands-down. There were times when he would ask me for questions, for direction and guidance before a decision. I felt really good about it. It let me know that I’m doing something right.
How would you advise others in public relations?
For my business, I feel like being a connector is a big thing. When I say that, it means connecting the things from our past with the things that are present and the things that our going to bring our future. I guess the mantra I have for my business is influenced by our ancestors, inspired by our needs and determined to make our mark. As far as advice I would give to anybody, especially in my field, it’s that you have to be adaptable and really quick on your feet.
What hope do you have for women in your career field?
It’s my sincerest wish to have equal pay for Black women business owners in general. But for advice: self-care, self-care, self-care. Practice great — not good — self-care.
